Hello Everyone,
First, I am posting this because, as far as I am aware, Apple does not offer
such a feature on the HomePod and I find this feature of Alexa and its
associated devices most useful.
Second, while the following article discusses Alexa Guard, know that there
are a great number of Alexa skills and routines that will enable your Amazon
speaker to listen for various sounds around the house such as running water,
beeping sounds, appliance alerts, etc. while you are at home. Also, you can
enable Alexa Guard while still at home as your smart speakers will continue
to function as expected. Personally, I use the listening routines to let me
know when my dryer finishes a cycle as the finish alert frequency is just
too high for me to hear unless I am standing right in front of the dryer.
Third, as of today, all aspects of Alexa Guard are 100% VoiceOver
accessible.
I hope you find the following article useful and that it will serve as a
gateway to even more accessibility for us all.
Mark
Smart Security: How to Protect Your Home With Alexa Guard
Amazon's Alexa Guard feature can help keep your home safe when you're away.
Here's how to turn your smart speaker into a home security device.
By Lance Whitney
If you own an Amazon Echo, you can protect your home with a feature called
Alexa Guard. When this option is enabled, Alexa will send you notifications
if your Echo detects certain sounds-like smoke alarms or breaking glass-and
will then let you listen to any sounds that raised the red flag.
With connected smart lights, Alexa Guard can also turn the lights on and off
to make it seem as if someone is home. While the free version of Alexa Guard
can't actually contact emergency services in the event of an emergency,
Smart Alerts can be sent to certain smart home security system providers,
such as Ring and ADT.
Alexa Guard is compatible with the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, and
Echo Studio. If you want your Echo to detect the sounds of smoke alarms or
carbon monoxide detectors, you will need alarms capable of producing audible
tones.
The Echo device must also be positioned close enough to the alarm that the
sound can be detected. Amazon recommends testing this out by positioning
your Echo and then pressing the test button on your alarm and seeing if
Alexa Guard detects the sound.
________________________________________
Set Up Alexa Guard
Before you can enable Alexa Guard, you must make sure you've added at least
one Echo device to your account, which you do through the Alexa app. After
that's done, open the app on your device and tap the More icon. Go to
Settings > Guard and select the Set Up Sound Detection button.
Make sure the switches for Smoke & CO Alarm Sounds and Glass Break are
enabled, assuming you want Guard to alert you to the sound of either event.
Tap Confirm, and all your supported Echo devices will be selected for sound
detection. Tap OK and a confirmation screen tells you that Guard is set up
and ready to use.
You can now activate Guard a few ways. At the Guard screen in the Alexa app,
tap the Home button to change it to Away. Otherwise, say "Alexa, I'm
leaving." Alexa says goodbye and tells you that Guard has been activated.
If Alexa Guard detects the sound of breaking glass or an alarm, you'll
receive a Smart Alert on your mobile device and smartwatch. You can then
play the recording to hear the sound. Alexa asks you to confirm if this was
the sound of glass breaking or an alarm. Alexa then asks if this is an
emergency situation.
You can also drop in on your Echo and listen to the surrounding area for any
noise in case someone has broken in. And for those of you who use ADT Pulse,
ADT Control, or Ring Alarm home security systems, Alexa Guard can
automatically alert the security company if it detects the sound of broken
glass or alarm tones.
You can also use Alexa Guard to turn the lights on and off to make it seem
as if someone is home. To set this up, connect and pair a compatible smart
light or plug with your Echo. In the Alexa app, tap Away Lighting. Turn on
the switch, then check the smart lights that want to activate for this
process. Now, when you say "Alexa, I'm leaving," Alexa will periodically
turn your lights on and off.
________________________________________
Upgrade to Alexa Guard Plus
Amazon also offers Alexa Guard Plus for $4.99 a month (or $49 a year) after
a free 30-day trial. This enhanced version of the service adds hands-free
access to an Emergency Helpline, smart alerts about unexpected activity and
other possible emergencies in your home, and will play certain sounds to
deter potential intruders.
You can sign up for Alexa Guard Plus in the Alexa app. Open to Settings >
Guard, then tap the Set up more Guard features banner at the top. Swipe down
the screen to read about the features offered by Guard Plus.
Recommended by Our Editors
Amazon's Echo Lineup: What's the Difference?
Amazon Echo Show vs. Google Nest Hub: Which Smart Display Should Be in Your
Home?
How to Easily Set Up Your Smart Home Devices With Amazon Alexa
Tap the Learn More button to see an Amazon web page with further details on
Guard Plus. At the web page, choose the monthly or annual subscription plan
and follow the screens to purchase your plan of choice.
Back in the Alexa app, go through each screen to set up Guard Plus. Confirm
your address at the Emergency Address screen. This step is important as it
will tell first responders where to go in the event of an emergency. Tap
Save, and the app will tell you that the Emergency Helpline is ready to use.
Tap the Plus button for Dog barking sounds to investigate that feature. For
this one to work, however, you'll need a motion-detecting indoor or outdoor
camera. If you have one that's compatible with Alexa, you'll need to set it
up as a smart device. If you don't have one, you can shop for cameras from
the next screen.
Tap the Plus button for Activity sounds with siren and follow the steps to
enable this feature. You'll need to create a voice code as confirmation
whenever you tell Alexa to turn on Guard or to set the sensitivity for any
sounds. When done, tap Confirm.
Now when you activate Guard, either by voice or through the app, Alexa will
listen or look for any triggering sounds or motions. If any activity is
detected, you can listen to the sound and drop in on your Alexa device to
monitor for further noises.
Original Article at:
https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/how-to-protect-your-home-with-alexa-guard
